Rogi Castle, with its excellently preserved ancient and Byzantine walls, stands atop a low hill (50 m) on the north slope of the Louros valley (ancient Haradros), on the right bank of the river, south of the village of Kerasounta (7 km from Philippiada). In antiquity the river was navigable as far as the castle, so the ancient settlement served as a port on the Ambracian Gulf, fully protected from winds, storms and pirates.
The site is identified with Bouchetion, described by Strabo as the main city of the Kassopaians. Like the other cities of Kassopaia — Pandosia, Elatria and Batiae — it was a colony of the ancient Elians, most likely founded in the Late Geometric period (second half of the 8th/beginning of the 7th century BC). Its name perhaps derives from bous (ox), indicating rich grazing land; its mythical founder was Bouchetos, son of Echetos, king of Epirus.
